H.R. 5808

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5808 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5808

To require the Secretary of State to designate the Federal Republic of 
Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, to impose certain 
sanctions, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 21, 2025

Mr. Stutzman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the 
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Secretary of State to designate the Federal Republic of 
Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, to impose certain 
sanctions, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Nigeria Religious Freedom 
Accountability Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.

(a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in Executive Order 13818 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking the 
property of persons involved in serious human rights abuse or 
corruption) on the persons identified in the report required under 
subsection (b).
(b) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report listing Nigerian persons who 
are--
(A) Federal officials or state governors who have, 
during the period specified in paragraph (2)--
(i) promoted, enacted, or maintained 
Nigerian blasphemy laws, including through 
public advocacy, legislative action, or 
executive enforcement directives; or
(ii) tolerated violence by non-state actors 
invoking religious justifications to commit 
acts of violence, including persons designated 
as--
(I) foreign terrorist organizations 
pursuant to section 219(a) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1189(a)); or
(II) specially designated global 
terrorists pursuant to Executive Order 
13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
blocking property and prohibiting 
transactions with persons who commit, 
threaten to commit, or support 
terrorism); or
(B) judges, magistrates, prison officials, or other 
judicial or law enforcement authorities who have, 
during the period specified in paragraph (2), enforced 
blasphemy laws, including through prosecution, 
conviction, imprisonment, or other deprivation of 
liberty of individuals pursuant to such laws.
(2) Period specified.--The period specified in this 
paragraph is--
(A) with respect to the first report required by 
paragraph (1), the period beginning 10 years before the 
date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the 
date on which the report is submitted; and
(B) with respect to each subsequent such report, 
the period beginning on the date on which the previous 
such report was submitted and ending the date on which 
the new report is submitted.
(3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex, if appropriate.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATIONS AND AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT.

(a) In General.--In reports required under section 402(b)(1)(A) of 
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 
6442(b)(1)(A)) and concurrent reviews required under section 301(a) of 
the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 (22 
U.S.C. 6442a(a)), the Secretary of State shall designate, for engaging 
in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of 
religious freedom--
(1) the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Country of 
Particular Concern (CPC); and
(2) Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Entities of 
Particular Concern (EPC).
(b) Waiver Authority.--
(1) CPC.--The Secretary of State may waive the requirement 
to impose a designation required under subsection (a)(1) if the 
Secretary transmits to the appropriate congressional committees 
a determination that--
(A) neither entity listed in subsection (a)(2) is 
currently operating in Nigeria; and
(B) the Federal Government of Nigeria and all state 
governments in Nigeria are not currently enforcing 
blasphemy laws.
(2) EPC.--The Secretary of State may waive the requirement 
to impose a designation required under subsection (a)(2) if the 
Secretary transmits to the appropriate committees a 
determination that the entity not being designated is not 
currently operating.
(c) Technical Correction.--Section 605(a)(1) of the of 
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6473a) is 
amended by striking ``freedom religion'' and inserting ``religious 
freedom''.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives.
(2) Boko haram.--The term ``Boko Haram'' means Jama'tu 
Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad.
(3) ISIS-west africa.--The term ``ISIS-West Africa'' means 
the Islamic State West Africa Province.
(4) Nigerian blasphemy laws.--The term ``Nigerian blasphemy 
laws'' refers to provisions in Nigeria's criminal, penal, or 
Shari'a codes that criminalize expression, behavior, or belief 
perceived as insulting religion.
(5) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or 
entity.
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